Ukraine’s Deep Strikes Explained by Weak Russian Air Defenses
Ukraine’s recent successful deep strikes into Russian territory can be attributed to the severe weakening of Russia’s air defense systems. According to George Barros, a Russia expert from the Institute for the Study of War, Ukrainian drones are penetrating areas where Russian air defenses were supposed to stop them:
“We’ve seen numerous instances where Ukrainians have breached Russian air defenses.”
Previously, Russian air defense systems were formidable opponents for Ukraine. However, Barros notes that the stretching of Russian defenses has provided new opportunities for the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF). Since spring 2024, the UAF has been able to “very deliberately” target and destroy Russian defenses.
Damage and Destruction of Russian Air Defense Systems
Many Russian air defense systems have been damaged and destroyed by Ukrainian forces. Ukraine is now focusing on targeting some defense systems that it previously could not reach. For example, Barros cites an incident in Tatarstan in April, where, according to experts, a light aircraft converted for remote control was used:
“This incident was very illustrative and indicates that the Russians have likely positioned their air defense systems in such a way that they have good coverage around the immediate theater near Ukraine. But outside of this theater, they do not.”
Strengthening Ukrainian Aviation
Ukraine has destroyed numerous Russian air defense systems, particularly in Crimea. Combined with more powerful aviation assets, such as Western F-16s, the successes of the UAF are likely to increase. Given these developments, Ukraine continues to focus on dismantling key elements of Russian defenses, which provides it with a strategic advantage.
Related Article
For more information on the media landscape in Ukraine and the move away from Russian language on Ukrainian TV channels, visit the article: Ukrainian TV Channels to Soon Abandon Russian Language: Impact on the Media Space.